IntermediateLesson 3 of 58 min read
Compare two versions of the same document.
A course from the Academy: Working on your documents
Go to the quiz ↓A contract sent back with amendments, two quotes, an updated set of terms. Spotting what has changed is tedious, and it is exactly the kind of thing a machine does well, provided you ask it properly.
The right request
"Here are two versions of the same document. List ONLY the substantive differences, in table form: clause concerned, previous wording, new wording, practical consequence. Ignore formatting and rewording that changes nothing."
The last sentence is decisive. Without it, you get thirty differences, twenty-eight of which are moved commas, and the two that matter get lost in the noise.
The question to ask next
"Among these changes, which ones are unfavourable to me?"
It does not know your situation: tell it which side you are on. "I am the contractor" or "I am the client" completely changes how the same clause is read.
What it misses
Deletions. A removed clause does not stand out: there is nothing to read in its place. Ask explicitly: "Which clauses present in version 1 have disappeared in version 2?"
That is often where the crux of a renegotiation lies.
The limit, once again
On a contract that binds you, this is useful for preparing the discussion, for knowing what to ask for and what to have reviewed. Not for signing.
What to do now
Take two versions of any text. Ask for the table of substantive differences, then specifically for deletions.
Complete the lesson
A 4-question quiz: 3 correct answers are enough, plus an exercise to practise. It opens in the Academy, on this same lesson.
Take the quiz and complete the lesson Free. With an account, your progress is saved and leads to the course certificate.